Around eleven at night, Odetta was jolted from her slumber by a resounding thud. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up in bed, her hair cascading down her shoulder, searching the dimness for the source of the unsettling noise. The enchanting strains of the violin that had once filled the air had long since ceased; perhaps the young miss in the adjoining room had finally succumbed to sleep. Steeling herself, Odetta swung her legs over the side of the bed and ventured forth, the flickering light of a small candle on her nightstand serving as her only guide through the oppressive darkness. A chill breeze brushed against her skin, an oddity since the window was firmly shut.
Tentatively, she opened her door and peered into the hallway, which was cloaked in shadows that evoked a profound sense of unease. Not wishing to tempt fate, she retreated into her room, securing the door with a firm click. Sleep eluded her that night; the sensation of being watched gnawed at her, stoking her fear until tears pricked her eyes. Desperate for solace, she lit every candle in her room, casting a warm, flickering glow that danced off the walls.
The castle was ancient, its creaks and groans unfamiliar to her even after several days of residing there. Each step she took down the staircase was accompanied by the unsettling sound of cracking wood, causing her to tremble as she descended. Upon reaching the bottom, she spotted Alexander making his way toward the entrance door.
"Excuse me, Alexander!" she called, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness. Alexander turned, his brow arched inquisitively.
"Yes? Do you need something, Miss Odetta?" His tone was gentle yet imbued with an underlying firmness.
"Are you heading somewhere?" Odetta inquired, finally reaching the foot of the stairs.
He nodded, replying, "Indeed. Lady Lenora has requested that I go to town to fetch her painter."
Painter? Odetta pondered, glancing at the numerous portraits adorning the castle walls—images of Lenora, her husband, and predominantly, a black cat. Strangely absent were any familial portraits, which struck her as odd. "Oh, is that so? May I accompany you? The groceries are running low," she ventured.
"Of course," Alexander said with a nod.
Odetta settled herself next to Alexander in the vehicle, her gaze drifting outside as the wind tousled her hair. Alexander cast furtive glances at her from time to time.
"Enjoying the view, Miss Odetta?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I am. Such a breathtaking landscape; my hometown pales in comparison," she replied with a wistful smile.
"The Varga family built this town with their own wealth," Alexander shared.
"They must be quite affluent, then," Odetta remarked.
Alexander offered no further comment, choosing instead to focus on the winding road ahead. After a few moments of contemplative silence, Odetta turned to him, her curiosity piqued by the events of the previous night. "Alexander, may I pose a question?"
"What is it?" he replied, his attention now fully on her.
With hesitation, she finally voiced the concern that had been plaguing her. "Three nights ago, something fell in my room during the night. When I investigated, I found nothing amiss. Is there... could there be a ghost in the castle?"
Alexander chuckled softly, dismissing her fears. "Ghosts? There's no such thing in this world," he assured her.
"Who knows? Perhaps they are indeed real," she countered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Just ignore it, Miss Odetta. The castle is old; it's likely just your imagination. Perhaps it was Lili; he has a habit of wandering into that room at night," Alexander offered, attempting to soothe her anxiety.
"Lili? Who is that?" Odetta inquired, intrigued.
"Lili is Lady Lenora's cat," he explained. "You've seen him before."
"A male cat with a feminine name? How amusing!" Odetta chuckled softly.
Alexander grinned, "Ah, I should patch the hole in the ceiling; Lili tends to use it as an entrance."
Upon arriving in town, Odetta exited the vehicle to procure groceries while Alexander waited for the painter. A small ship docked nearby, and several figures emerged, among them a young man with tousled brown hair, struggling to balance a collection of painting supplies.
"Is that you, Theodore Solomon?" Alexander called out.
The young man looked up, adjusting his glasses, confusion etched on his face. "Err... yes? How do you know my name?" he asked.
"I'm Alexander Wellington. Lady Lenora has sent me to collect you," Alexander explained.
"Oh, splendid. I have quite a few things; would you mind helping me carry them to the car?" Theodore requested.
"Not at all," Alexander replied, assisting him. Once Theodore settled into the passenger seat, Alexander cast him a knowing glance.
"What?" Theodore asked, bemused.
"It's nothing... a young lady was with me before you arrived; she sat in the front seat."
Theodore cursed under his breath, suddenly anxious that he had made a poor first impression. What if the girl was Lady Lenora's daughter?
"O-oh. I'll sit in the back, no worries. Haha, I thought you were alone," he laughed nervously.
"She went to buy groceries. She'll return shortly," Alexander reassured him, observing Theodore's demeanor.
As if on cue, Odetta emerged, her arms laden with bags of fresh vegetables. "There she is," Alexander announced, watching Theodore's face light up with admiration at the sight of her.
Odetta approached, her expression warm and welcoming. "Oh! You must be the painter, right?" she said with a radiant smile.
Theodore nodded, momentarily speechless, his mouth agape.
Reaching out, Odetta extended her hand, "I'm Odetta Gilmore," she introduced herself.
Recovering his composure, Theodore grasped her hand, "Theodore Solomon," he stammered.
Alexander, now seated in the car, furrowed his brow, perplexed by Theodore's eagerness to shake Odetta's hand while brushing him off earlier. But as he observed the two, he dismissed the thought, chalking it up to Theodore's full hands.
"Well then, let us return home," Alexander said, starting the engine. As they drove, he couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that crept into his chest, noticing how Theodore's gaze remained firmly fixed on Odetta.